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Family adventure vacations: A truly wild & natural adventure

Family adventure vacations mean different things to different families. Our definition is possibly a wee bit on the wild side for some people – but some of our friends have adventures even more out on the wild side than ours. At least if some one else arranges your adventure for you, you have some peace of mind in knowing that they have checked out some of the potential hazards for you. They have probably minimised the risks so you can relax and enjoy the vacation.

Imagine living on the 69th floor of a skyscrapper – what do you think your ideal vacation would be?

A family from Hong Kong contacted us about our Walking, Whisky and Wildlife itinerary. They were looking for something authentic and unique. From there we developed a tailor-made itinerary for them to take account of their 6 year old son and the fact that in Hong Kong they have few if any opportunities to hike. They also wanted to see a wee bit of the Highlands, sample whisky, visit Loch Ness and dip under the surface of a typical touring itinerary.

We put together the following itinerary for them. How much would you have included in your tour? How much did you know about before reading on?

Enjoying the summit on our first mountain climb in Scotland

Spotting wildlife in the native Caledonian pine forest

Local football match during the World Cup.

The adventure playpark - a welcome break for the kids from the whole whisky experience

Meeting the sheepdog pups after the skilled demonstration

Exploring the countryside - on the wild side

Relaxing in the evening over a chess board

The junior guide and his mates - demonstrating wild survival skills like whittling a stick

Enjoying lunch with a view - sandwiches with freshly made seeded bread from the Fraoch Lodge kitchen.

The tasters displaying the evidence

Wild bilberries in abundance - soon to be bilberry muffins for breakfast

Standing and playing on snow in July - an unexpected treat for travellers from Asia

On top of the world - Cairngorm summit. All the travellers from Hong Kong, plus one

Family adventure vacations: in the Cairngorms

Day of arrival:

Arrival was out of our control and we kept the possibility of activities as free as possible. As it turned out the train from Edinburgh was delayed and no one had lunch before 4pm. There was plenty of time to explore the village and keep an uneducated eye out for wildlife. The kids had a lovely time discovering the trampoline in out garden and the hides/shelters which seem to decorate the entire forest here.

Photo caption: Taken on a different day with different children, but you get the idea. Dens in the wood had a universal appeal.

Family adventure vacations: Day 1

Short walk at Loch an Eilean followed by a transfer to Ruthven Barracks and Highland Folk Museum. Tour of Folk Museum.

Our definition of a short walk was a bit of a shock for the uninitiated city dwellers as we didn’t just follow the dog walking, tourist route around the loch, but took everyone up to a wee viewpoint nearby and picked our first wild berries.

After the walk, we transferred the group over to the Highland Folk Museum where the kids had a great time going back in time to a strict classroom. The adults also remembered some of the games from their childhoods. It was a win/win situation all round.

Adventuring we will go – up hill, down dale and thru heather to the berries.

Family adventure vacations Day 2:

Visit to Highland Wildlife Park to see the polar bears and Amur tigers, & sheepdog demonstrations

There’s a wildlife focus to our activities today. We’ll take a landrover safari of the wildlife park and visit all the animals. All the animals are cold climate dwellers. Many live in the Highlands today. There are currently new wildlife kittens and a young polar bear among others.

The kids had a great time seeing all the cold climate animals. I’m not sure what their favourites were but they all loved the sheepdog demonstrations which followed and remembered an awful lot of the information the farmer told them. I think it was particularly because they got to handle the puppies at the end.

Meeting the puppies after the sheepdog demonstrations here in the Cairngorms National Park

Family adventure vacations Day 3:

This was a day mainly for the adults as learning all about the making and drinking of whisky didn’t exactly thrill the kids but their day was made by an ice cream stop an a visit to the adventure play park in Tomintoul. For a full whisky explanation read up on our blog about how to choose a special whisky which you won’t find at home. We’ve also talked about all kinds of whisky related products.

Trying out the obstacles in the adventure play park at Tomintoul which entertains the kids while the whisky tasting goes on at the Whisky Castle.

Family adventure vacations Day 4:

Bag a Munro – hike up Cairngorm

Climb your first mountain in the Highlands and enjoy stunning views across the whole valley.

This was a surprising highlight for the families. They loved hiking up to the summit of Cairngorm and reaching a snow patch. They played there to their hearts content and were perfectly content despite completely sodden footwear. The snow factor was a definite winner.

Family adventure vacations Day 5:

Loch Ness

We’ll visit Culloden battlefield, the Loch Ness exhibition and if we have time Urquhart castle for a full quota of history today. See if you can spot the world famous monster. We’ll also fit in a small walk to stretch our legs and find a quiet picnic spot.

We made a wee bit of a different tour of Loch Ness this time and had lunch at the Dores Inn and did a wee bit of a walk. One of our families decided on alternative activities and rode the train on the Strathspey Steam Railway instead of a visit to Loch Ness. They were convinced that they wouldn’t see the monster!

Another alternative option for a Loch Ness visit with an older party is to park at Invermoriston, take the bus to Fort Augustus and walk the high route of the Great Glen Way back to Invermoriston for great views over Loch Ness and few if any crowds.

We also highly recommend a visit to Loch Ness Clayworks which is on the Great Glen Way but also at the foot of a wee hillwalk right by the side of Loch Ness – a fantastic alternative way to explore the area as lochside can be so busy it will be extremely difficult to get parked, particularly at the castle:

TOP TIP: walk to Urquhart castle from Drumnadrochit.

Day of depature:

After breakfast we’ll run you through to Aviemore. We’ll be sorry to see you go but hope you’ll be back again before too long.

If you’re interested in a tailor made adventure vacation here in the Highlands of Scotland please don’t hesitate to contact us. We don’t really have a lot of availability in 2018 but if you’re thinking about coming over to Scotland in 2019, please get in touch as soon as you can as we’d hate to disappoint and holiday dates get booked up really quickly.

Family walks in the Cairngorms

In no particular order we’ve listed 10 of our favourite family walks in the Cairngorms. We’ve concentrated on the area we know best around the northern side of the park, but we do also know of some excellent walks on the south side of the park which we’ll mention in passing with reference to more detailed information at the end of the blog.

We’ve concentrated on walks which you can do with younger children as once your kids reach a certain age, they’re capable of achieving just as much on a day hike as any other adult.

Ascending Meall a’Bhucaille with 2 x 7 year olds and 1 x 4 year old.

The walks

1. Loch an Eilean

Of the family walks available in the Cairngorms, this is one of the most popular, also frequented by some of the minibus tour companies like Rabbies.

The walk takes about 2 hours or 4.5 miles

It is a lovely walk to do. You don’t have to do the whole walk but the path is suitable for push chairs, particularly those with 3 wheels or larger wheel sizes.

The ruined castle on the island in the loch lends the situation a romantic aura. The area has featured in Outlander and the new Netflix extravaganza about King Arthur.

The optional extension around the neighbouring loch, is almost deserted. The path is wide and mostly through lovely open Caledonian pines. Even on a wet day, it is picturesque.

In summer, you can snack your way round on the wild bilberries which line the path in places.

One of the most popular short walks in the northern Cairngorms. (Bilberries are the summer highlight.)

2. Green Lochan (or on to Ryvoan Bothy)

An easy walk to fit into a bigger day of activities. Going up to the Green Lochan and back to your car will only take about 1 hour.

1.2 miles: 26 mins (one way)

Start at Glenmore Lodge or the Forestry Commission Visitor Information Centre in Glenmore. Parking at the end of the road by Glenmore Lodge is limited and on a fine day you may find that there is no space there. If you are parked at the end of the road, near the visitor information centre, you will end the walk at the Cobbs cafe. A cake break here makes a fine reward at the end of the day.

The path is wide and easy to find up to the Green Lochan. It starts from the road end and continues straight up to the Green Lochan. Allow time to stop at the lochan take in the views and maybe even dabble your toes in the water. There’s a great spot for photos too.

If you want a longer route

If this is not enough of a walk for you and your family the route continues on to Ryvoan Bothy. The Bothy is a basic shelter, like a refuge. It is free to use and does not have a warden. The main thing to remember is that you should not leave anything at the bothy which wasn’t there when you arrived. You can spend the night at Ryvoan Bothy, but be prepared for some competition for the “bed” space. There is a small stove in the bothy, so providing you have fuel, you should be warm enough.

Perfect spot to rest up after a wee walk. Popular in the middle of the day.

3. Loch Mallachie & RSPB Loch Garten

This is a lovely walk at any time of year in almost any weather conditions. The majority of the walk is through mature Caledonian pine forest which bears no resemblance whatsoever to commercial forestry. The trees are not all straight nor are they planted in rows. The undergrowth is lush and often filled with treasures like wild blueberries, cowberries or mushrooms. You could see a red squirrel, roe deer, crested tits, ospreys etc

At Loch Garten you have the option of visiting the Osprey Hide and hearing the ongoing saga of the Osprey centre (April to August only).

Including Loch Mallachie on your circuit is a must. It is a beautiful spot and really quite peaceful. Sunrise is glorious here if you’re an early riser.

2 – 3 hours: 9km, plus walk through Boat of Garten to the car park if you are starting from Fraoch Lodge

4. Viewpoint walk, Grantown on Spey

This is a short way-marked circular route of 5km.

You’ll start either from the centre of Grantown, or from the caravan park (though parking is limited here). The route starts on a tarmaced track leading off left past the caravan park. You’ll then pick up signs for the Dava Way and the viewpoint walk to the right. Follow the track up the hill along the side of the stream. You’ll pass a couple of points where you can admire the view over Grantown to the Cromdale hills before reaching the ultimate viewpoint marker, atop a small rocky outcrop. Here you’ll find a viewpoint marker indicating all the mountains etc you can see.

Continue on from the viewpoint to make the walk a circular route, finishing up along the old railway track which is now part of the Dava Way.

There are opportunities to Geocache along the way if you feel the need to add a bit of interest to the walk.

5. River Walk, Nethy Bridge

This is a really short walk suitable for even the youngest members of the family. It follows the river Nethy from the bridge in the centre of Nethybridge up towards the Dell of Abernethy. There are also plenty of opportunities to extend the walk along the local network of paths, the majority of which are waymarked.

You can also pick up a map at the information centre in the village hall right at the start of your walk.

There are alternative routes out to Broomhill station and Castle Roy on the other side of Nethybridge.

Make more of a day out of it

Take the steam train from Boat of Garten to Broomhill. Follow the walking route into Nethybridge and either pick you way to the river where there is a wee beach where you can relax. You can paddle in the shallows too. But watch out, because there are deeper patches in the middle of the river. Don’t try to wade out to the other side.

From here you could also pick up the Speyside way and walk all the way back to Boat of Garten which is no more than 5 miles and probably less. It’s a great walk with plenty of opportunities in the summer to stop and snack on bilberries (wild blueberries).

There are plenty of Geocache possibilities in Nethybridge too to keep the kids focused.

6. Ellan Woods, Carrbridge

Ellan Woods are again filled with Geocache boxes. Even if you don’t travel that far, the kids will have a great time trying to retrieve as many prizes as they can.

Parts of the off-road route 7 cycle path also pass through Carrbridge.

Another alternative: Sluggan Bridge

Sluggan bridge as a walk on it’s own is suitable for almost anyone to do. It is just a quick stretch of the legs, but can easily be extended and is such as lovely spot that you can easily spend an afternoon there with the kids. Dabble in the water and have a picnic.

This is a wee favourite of ours. A little jaunt up to a viewpoint above Aviemore, or if you have really wee ones just go to the wee lochans. You’d hardly know you’re right next to the A9.

The walk is about 5km so probably not one for really young ones. Parts of it were a wee bit icy when we did it (admittedly that was March and really only to be expected). Lovely walk which breaks out of the birch forest to provide spectacular views as below. Some steep sections but easily managed by anyone of moderate fitness. Walking poles advised if you are not used to hill walking.

8. Boat of Garten to Aviemore

Well worth a wee gander across the moor to Aviemore. You follow the route of the Strathspey Railway most of the way to Aviemore as well as the course of the river Spey. This is part of the Speyside Way. It is a well maintained wide path. You’ll be heading towards the Cairngorms so spectacular views of the mountains. The only downside is that there is very little shelter for the majority of the route though the beginning and the end are protected by trees.

Points of interest:

You can come out into Aviemore on the Dalfaber estate, right next to Cairngorm Brewery. Worth a stop? They do brewery tours! Also near here: Kilted Fudge (for the kids to pick up a treat) and Route 7 Cafe.

You can return by steam train to Boat of Garten if you time it right, or alternatively take the public bus service (no. 34) back to the village.

We’ve already covered this option in some detail in a previous blog. Do click on the link for full details. This is a very popular family walk. Plenty of treats for the younger kids to encourage them to the top.

10. Ascent of Cairngorm

This is quite a walk for wee kids, but don’t forget if it’s your first attempt and the kids get tired, you usually have the option of taking the funicular train back down (providing you remember your wallet).

Again it is easy to extend this walk if you want or keep it short and just pop in at the Ptarmigan restaurant at the top for snacks and refreshments.

Do not attempt this walk with young kids in the winter months.

From the ski car park to the summit is: just over 4km, 2 – 2.5 hr walking

Remember: there is no shelter or shade on this walk. Cairngorm is sub-arctic tundra. Most of the vegetation is less than knee high. There are trees but they are of the dwarf variety and don’t even reach you knees. You’d have to know what you’re looking at to identify them as trees!

A family day out on the summit of Cairngorm (with diversions to hunt for snow)